Dean Beyett
FIVE STAR CAR STEREO
- Position: Installation Manager
- Location: Clearwater, FL
- Biography: I have been installing car audio for the past 30 years. I have been with my current employer, Five Star Car stereo, for the past 8 years. There I handle the business’s website, Instagram page, and manage custom installation sales. I also, with my partner Fernando, do all the day to day installation work. I own Smash Force Productions. We produce Five Star Car Stereo and the Boring Life of Dean and Hailey YouTube shows. We have created thousands of videos on the subjects of car audio and being a dad.
Dan Bowman
Titan Motoring
- Position: Sales Professional
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Biography: Dan Bowman works in the sales department at Titan Motoring in Nashville, Tenn. He has been a member of the team since July of 2021 and has been in the industry for 25 years. He noted that one of his strengths is always remembering to use his resources, whether it's relying on vendors for information or colleagues within the industry.
Kris Bulla
SONY
- Position: eVehicle Product Training Manager
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Biography: Kris Bulla has more than 28 years’ experience the mobile electronics industry, with roles as a technician, salesperson, category manager, sales rep, product development specialist, and trainer. He is currently the Global Product Training Manager for Sony Car Audio, and the Owner and President of the MECP Program. He holds MECP Expert Installation Technician and Toastmasters International Public Speaking credentials, and is ultra-motivated to help retail managers, technicians, and salespeople in their endeavors to get educated and improve this business and skills.
Lord Phil Chartier
The 12Volt Specialist
- Position: Manufacturer Representative
- Location: Nashua, NH
- Biography: Lord Phil Chartier is an award wining and experienced Rep Principal with a demonstrated history of working in the consumer electronics industry. Skilled in Team Management, Marketing Management, Business Planning, Retail, Sales Training and Support , Technical Training and Support, and product management and development. Strong sales professional with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) focused in Industrial Management/Mechanical Engneering from University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
Chris Cook
Mobile Electronics Association
- Position: President
- Location: North Andover, MA
- Biography: Mr. Cook serves as President of the Mobile Electronics Association the U.S. trade association representing over 1,000 mobile electronics companies and owning and producing four annual KnowledgeFest tradeshows, and the trade publication Mobile Electronics Magazine. Cook is an accomplished 20-year executive focused in the automotive electronics sector. He has a wide array of experience focused on forward-looking solutions that realize a connected lifestyle in every consumer environment. Cook is a speaker, thought leader and presenter at technology changing shows and conferences for over 20 years.
Jayson Cook
COLUMBUS CAR AUDIO
- Position: Sales Manager
- Location: Columbus, OH
- Biography: My name is Jayson Cook I have been in the industry professionally for over 20 years. I graduated from Mobile Dynamics Toronto campus in 1996 with the hopes of becoming an installer. In 1998 I was hired on at Columbus Car Audio to be a sales person with the intent of becoming an installer at some point…that never happened. Instead I became their top salesperson for most of my career. So much that my role now is to continuously teach, and train my staff to sell based off of standards that I have learned and have implemented into my daily routine. I was fortunate enough to win the 2019 Mobile Electronics Salesperson of the Year this year and I really want to help grow the sales side of this industry. I have learned so much from many coworkers and friends in this industry and I want to give back as much as I can. I feel that there is a strong need to help teach and train the techniques of selling and working face to face with customers on a daily level in a professional manner that our industry lacks, and also to be able to work as a team with the technicians to give the best experience possible to our clients.
Kevin Hallinan
WINNING, Inc.
- Position: Principal
- Location: Boston, MA
- Biography: Kevin Hallinan is a Principal of WINNING, Incorporated and has over 30 years of sales, training, and management success. An engaging and dynamic trainer and mentor, and an award-winning sales producer, Kevin has provided training and coaching to hundreds of companies in numerous industries. Kevin has been involved in almost every aspect of sales and sales management throughout his career. His experiences range from small private companies, to family run businesses, to the corporate setting where he has successfully sold both products and services. He is a former business owner, industry leader and constant overachiever, having earned numerous sales awards including Producer of the Year and Top Account Executive, and holds two yet unbroken company records for Highest Weekly Sales and Highest Quarterly Sales.
Tomas Keenan
Step It Up Academy
- Position: CEO
- Location: Dallas, TX
- Biography: Tomas Keenan is best known for his humble beginnings and lengthy career as a custom car audio installer. He is the epitome of a technician turned COO. After co-founding an industry-leading GPS Tracking and Dashboard Camera installation company and growing it to a 7-figure business, Tomas moved into the coaching space as a high-level business and success coach for other industry leaders and business owners. Tomas works with Entrepreneurs who refuse to be average and are crushing 7+ figures in business. His success as an elite business coach led him to move his family from NYC to Dallas, Texas, to focus full-time on his newest company, Step It Up Academy. His expertise and vast experience have repeatedly put him on the top industry magazines' pages. He has been featured in Forbes, Mobile Electronics Magazine, CE Outlook, CEO Blog Nation, Fit Small Business, The Startup Growth, The Goodmen Project, and several Blogs, in addition to countless podcasts. Tomas is also a sought-after public speaker, 2X bestselling author, and Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast host. He has interviewed industry leaders, influencers, high-level business and success coaches, business owners, and entrepreneurs who are impacting their communities and the world at large. He states the key to his success is making progress every day, regardless of how small it may be.
John Kowanetz
Whats Your Pathway
- Position: Sales Manager
- Location: Pheonix, AZ
- Biography: Having spent more than half of his life working in the automotive aftermarket industry, Jon Kowanetz has held almost every position there is, but the one he is most known for is as the owner of Handcrafted Auto Marine & Offroad in Chandler, Arizona. Over the course of 15 years, Jon started and built this business from a mere idea, into a multiple award-winning company with a strong local reputation and a loyal team. After selling Handcrafted in late 2022, Jon started his new company, Pathways Coaching & Consulting with the goal of using everything he has learned in both professional and personal development, to help other business owners get from where they are now, to where they want to be, both professionally and personally.
Jason Kranitz
Major League Fab
- Position: Owner
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Biography: In 2006, Jason Kranitz opened Kingpin Car and Marine Audio in Wilsonville, Oregon after 14 years of professional installation at local retailers. A strong marketer, Kranitz built the Kingpin brand through partnerships and support of area causes. His work was recognized by the mobile electronics industry as he was awarded the Retailer of the Year award in 2008, and again in 2017, by Mobile Electronics Magazine. The trade publication also honored Kranitz personally as Installer of the Year in 2013. Kranitz started Kingpin University out of his store in 2015 to share his business and technical experience. Since its opening, he has taught thousands of industry professionals how to plan for success, overcome problems and improve efficiencies, on the sales floor and in the bay. The dynamic curriculum employed by Kranitz comprises tried and trusted solutions from the day-to-day operation of a retail mobile electronics facility. This experience has also molded his training method into lessons that are easily teachable, repeatable in practice and predictable in results. Kingpin Car and Marine Audio, as well as Kingpin University, were relocated to Las Vegas in 2018 to provide a more central location for students and manufacturing partners. Due to COVID-19, Kingpin University reached students through virtual classes while the store continued to build a customer base in Las Vegas. In 2020, Kranitz was again recognized by the mobile electronics industry, this time for his acumen on the sales floor. Mobile Electronics Magazine awarded him Sales Pro of the Year through a virtual ceremony. In addition to Kingpin University, Kranitz has shared his experience with store owners, sales professionals, technicians, and installers by teaching at KnowledgeFest events over the past decade. He has also worked with prominent manufacturers to train their dealers to lower return rates and become more efficient. 2022-2023 Jason turned his attention to new projects and business models. Polarity Check Marketing Group, Vegas Hardbags, and Major League Fab - Tools and Training.
Nando Lopez
FIVE STAR CAR STEREO
- Position: Installer
- Location: Clearwater, FL
- Biography: Fernando is an installation technician at Five Star Car Stereo in Clearwater, FL. He has over 10 years of car audio installation experience . Along with installation, he is responsible for Five Star!s FaceBook page, and all Spanish installation sales. He is also part of the company, Smash Force Production that produced the successful "Five Star Car Stereo" ,” Dean and Fernando's Car Stereo Clips” and "The Boring Life of Dean and Hailey” YouTube channels. With is knowledge of 12volt, he has also done trainings and translating in Spanish for Manufactures.
John Schwartz
Perfectionist Auto Sound
- Position: Owner
- Location: Anchorage, AK
- Biography: John has loved car audio all his life. He has been in the industry for 33 years starting as an installer and working his way up to CEO of Two-Time Retailer of the Year Perfectionist Auto Sound in Anchorage, Alaska. He has been with Perfectionist for 24 years and was also part of the original team at Firstech which owns CompuStar. Join John while he shows you what it takes and the mindset you need to build a multimillion-dollar company.
Andy Smith
HKI USA
- Position: Regional Sales
- Location: Dania Beach, FL
- Biography: I have been in and out of the 12-volt industry since 2000. I started as a helper for a few friends and small shops in and around central Iowa. I worked my way into installation and fabrication in my own garage to help friends with their installs. I kept doing installs "on the side" for select people until 2018 when my wife and I made the decision to open our own shop. SMART Cycle (named using our family's first initials Sage, Madison, Andy, Reilynn, Tiffany) was established in Pleasant Hill, Iowa and has been continuing to grow since August of 2018. In October of 2020 I was brought on board with HKI to cover a small territory as a rep, but also to help answer Tech calls. My relationship with HKI has continued to grow and transform into so much more! Not only do I cover the MINK States as a rep, I also head up PowerSports tech support, and have a big hand in new product testing and development. I look forward to continuing my growth and knowledge in our industry, as well growing even more with HKI.
Elias Ventura
HKI USA
- Position: Regional Sales & Training
- Location: Dania Beach, FL
- Biography: I'm Elias Ventura, a Car Guy at heart, since I was a child and teen years, I knew I wanted to work with anything car related from an early age. I currently work for HKI USA, which represents SounDigital, Ground Zero, Four Connect and TURY Products in the US. I currently cover the Mid-Atlantic Region for HKI, assisting in Training and assisting with Key Accounts. October of this year will be my 17th Year as a 12 Volt Professional. I started in the industry by attending a Car Audio School, Mobile Dynamics in Tempe, Arizona in 2004-2005. In 2005 I got my official start in the Industry at Tweeter, a regional consumer electronics chain store that did Home and Car Audio. I started at Tweeter as an Apprentice Installer, evolved into a Salesperson, and got my first start in Management there. I've had the opportunity to work in different Car Audio Shops which has allowed me to see all aspects of stores, from Small Boutique to Small-Large Chain Stores. In 2017 I was awarded the SalesPro Award by my industry and peers, a surreal and humbling experience. Winning this award has inspired me to give back something that I enjoy doing, from teaching at various KnowledgeFest Events, Regional Distributor Events to Co-Running a Facebook Group "12V SalesPros". I have also made it to the Top 5 Sales Reps for the 2024 industry awards. This Industry has given me so much, I have made it my passion to teach, influence and give back by helping others daily.
David Wall
Freeman's Car Stereo
- Position: CEO
- Location: Cornelius, NC
- Biography: CEO at Freeman's Car Stereo, Inc, the largest independent retailer for mobile electronics in the Carolina's. We operate six stores in North Carolina and one store in South Carolina. We were honored as the 2023 Mobile Electronics Retailer of the Year in the Multi-store category.
Kaitlyn Young
Social Media Doctor
- Position: Founder & CEO
- Location: City, ST
- Biography: Kaitlyn is the Founder & CEO of Social Media Doctor and a vital member of multiple different masterminds. With over a decade in the business world, she has leveraged her experience, mentorship, and valuable connections to propel Social Media Doctor to success while empowering countless businesses to thrive. Beyond her professional endeavors, Kaitlyn is a Best-Selling author and shares her life with her husband Scott. They reside in their Grand Rapids home, surrounded by their beloved cats and dogs.
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